Cycling The Cape & Winelands of South Africa

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 30 reviews.

Steve Palmer

SOUTH AFRICA: CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Written January 2013
The vital aspect of any Exodus trip is the mix of the group. This was no different; 13/14 folks eager to get on, and one awkward $*?ck£r ... there is always one! (his name available on request)Plus a great guide and driver.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling Chapmans Peak, and seeing the views to Nordhoek and Houts Bay.
What did you think of your group leader?
Peter (Albert) handled most situations very well and always in a calm manner.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Definitely do this trip, but ask for the premier accommodation version.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Best trip ever! Scenery fantastic; weather wonderful; exchange rate helpful; food and wines awesome.
Definitely going back. Hey Exodus ... how about cycling Namibia ? Windhoek/Walvis Bay/down to Cape Town ... make it a camping trip (rather than using low-grade accomm)
Exodus Response
Hi Steven,
As it happens we have a brand new Namian cycling trip this year - http://www.exodus.co.uk/holidays/mzn/overview - It takes in various places in the South and North of the country and includes a couple days on safari in Etosha as well! Oh and it has a good amount of camping too! :)
Tom

- Exodus Staff
Claire Scott

SOUTH AFRICA: CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Written November 2012
Overall, a well organised trip with spectacular scenery and good winetasting. Accommodation was variable in style but most was very good, and the cottages at Franschoek were delightful. The guesthouse at Barrydale was also excellent. a good balance of cycling and sightseeing, although a little more time to sightsee would be good. There were also a fair number of transfers on the bus, but maybe this is unavoidable.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching whales at Hermanus was hard to beat - they are HUGE and very close to the shore. Cycling Chapmans Peak Drive on the last day was a most beautiful cycle, not as tough as feared, and glorious scenery. Also the headwind had dropped a little!
What did you think of your group leader?
Tallis was very organised, and kept the different abilities of the group together with good humour. He was also sensible enough to cancel one afternoons cycle as it was dangerously windy. Sofiso drove the bus, cooked, loaded and unloaded all our stuff, and was always a most welcome sight at the breaks with water, fruit and jelly babies!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I would assess it as harder than "moderate". Everyone on our trip had hired Exodus bikes and they were heavy ATBs rather than hybrids which would have been more suitable. Most of the cycles were moderate in length but very hilly(which meant lovely views), and there was a horrible headwind almost every day which made the cycling much harder than it sounds on paper. But there is always the option of catching a ride on the bus. And the encouragement of the group generally kept everyone going!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The cycling is mainly on the hard shoulder of (often) busy roads, carrying a fair amount of heavy traffic. Combined with the strong and sometimes unpredictably gusty wind, this could be a bit hair-raising. Also remember that restaurants are happy for you to bring your own bottle of wine, charging a nominal corkage, so stock up at the excellent wine-tastings! I do feel that Exodus should supply hybrids or roadbikes as it is advertised as a "road cycling" trip. Otherwise, a great trip, go for it!
Elisabeth Pritchard

SOUTH AFRICA: CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Written November 2012
An excellent well planned and well run trip. Fantastic scenery, great places to stay and a great guide.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling mountain passes and Chapman's Peak. Whale watching. Cycling along the stunning coast back to Cape Town.
What did you think of your group leader?
Tallis was really excellent. Low key, flexible but very well organised. Supported everyone in the group. Also very knowledgeable about flora and fauna and had a great sense of humour. Our driver Sifiso was also excellent. Could not fault the team.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be aware the hire bikes are mountain bikes with road tyres, not ideal for this sort of road trip. Road bikes or hybrids would have been much better.
Allow some extra days at start or end to explore Cape Town and climb Table Mountain.
William Kempster

SOUTH AFRICA: CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Written November 2012
Well organised, well executed tour with a great bunch of people in one of the most beautiful parts of the world in which to peddle.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Making it across Chapmans Peak and then relishing the stunning views and swooping downhills on the other side.
What did you think of your group leader?
Tallis was first class and especially adept at managing the varying skill and fitness levels of the participants so that the strugglers like me were able to complete 99% of the distance, while the fitter folks had the opportunity to do their thing as a faster pace or over a longer distance.
He and Sufiso made an excellent team: between them they cooked for us just brilliantly, ironed out any issues with accomodation and generally created a situation which could get on and enjoy the trip with them taking care of all the hassle. Very grateful, guys!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
My fitter friends may disagree, but to my mind this trip is at the more challenging end of Moderate. Don't let that put you off, if like me you are knocking on a bit, but spend a few more hours working on your fitness level before you leave. You will be amply rewarded for the extra effort....
Bottom line: it's a great trip, just go for it!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Exodus, you gotta do something about those bikes: i understand the finance folks want to sweat the assets, but the charge for hire is not trvial and the bikes are not up to the standard of the rest of the package. I bought a Trek 4500 a few months ahead of the trip and it's a couple of hundred percent better than the alleged Trek 4500 you provided in South Africa.
Again, i would not want to anybody off travelling with you on account of the bikes, but you owe it to your reputation and brand to provide equipment that matches up to the marketing.....
Robert Hughes

SOUTH AFRICA: CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Written November 2012
Overall a fantastic trip well lead and supported,
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For me arriving in Hermanus and seeing the whales from the shoreline was the highlight
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent. Expertly organised a large group and provided just the right balance of information as we toured around
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take plenty of suncream and your own saddle
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The mountain bikes were a little heavy and hybrid bikes without suspension would have been a more appropriate bike for this trip
Graeme Aston

CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Written December 2011
Cycling through great scenery with occasional wildlife and places of interest en route. A great advenure, made memorable by a good group.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling along the coast around False bay and then the route towards Cape Town.
What did you think of your group leader?
Rudi was good fun and has good energy. He got 13 of us around the full itinerary without any real mishaps. Lots of local knowledge, but could keep some of his briefings a bit briefer! Organised a good range of restaurants in the evenings.

Andrew put in a solid performance as driver and assistant. Very knowledgeable and a great sense of humour!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you're doing the shark cage diving, be careful what you have for breakfast! Don't expect too much luxury accommodation.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is my 7th cycling trip with Exodus and my favourite. Book it and enjoy yourself!
NYE CRANAGE

CYCLING THE CAPE & WINELANDS

Written December 2011
REALLY GOOD HOLIDAY AND THE BEST GUIDES THAT I HAVE BIKED WITH.
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What did you think of your group leader?
GREAT
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
BE AWARE THAT IT IS A WINDY COUNTRY